42 Best Shopping in Belize

The body creams here, made with Belizean coconut oil and cocoa butter (a by-product of chocolate-making), may be the best in the world. They're a bargain, too. Owner Lara Goldman (who makes the creams) also sells chic tote bags, soy candles, and other fashionable gifts, all made in Belize. You can even buy lionfish scale earrings. 

The country's first art gallery, established more than 30 years ago by Londoner Lyndsey Hackston, Belizean Arts today has the largest selection of art by Belizeans and Belize residents, including paintings by Walter Castillo, Pen Cayetano, Nelson Young, Leo Vasquez, Rene Guerra, and others. The gallery also carries ceramics, jewelry, and other crafts. Even if you don't intend to buy, it's worth a look.

To stock up on picnic supplies or groceries, head to the expanded, modern Brodies, a mini-department store and pharmacy as well as a supermarket, in a safe area on the Goldson Highway with plenty of free, safe parking. James Brodie & Co. has been in Belize since 1887. There's another location on Regent Street in downtown Belize City and also one in Belmopan City.

The biggest gift shop on the Southern Coast, and one of the country's best, GariMaya has a large selection of Garifuna and Maya crafts, including masks, clothing, jewelry, and wood carvings, although some items appear to be imported from Guatemala and Mexico. (Look carefully.) You'll also find a good selection of souvenir T-shirts, too.

This small gallery in an unassuming white building sells Garifuna drums, masks, wood carvings and other locally made items. In the gallery you'll find rotating exhibits on Garifuna life.

At Graniel's Dreamland, the showroom for Armando Graniel's beautiful carpentry, you can find stunning tropical woodwork at affordable prices, like one-of-a-kind bowls of knotted wood, clam chairs, or cutting boards. The shop will package your items for shipping or for carrying back home.

Enter through the blue picket gate to discover curated goods and crafts all made in Belize. Paintings by local artists can be found here. The owner, Jessie Wigh (who also runs Namaste Café), writes the charming Caye Boy series, children's books about the joys of growing up on Caye Caulker.

This gallery has one of the best selections of Belizean and Guatemalan crafts in Belize. It has an especially good selection of wood items from tropical hardwoods, including bowls, small pieces of furniture, and carvings. There's also a small restaurant and guesthouse here.

On Saturday morning, San Ignacio Market comes alive with farmers selling local fruits and vegetables. Vendors also hawk crafts, clothing, and household goods. Some vendors show up on other days as well, but Saturday has by far the largest market. A smaller vegetable and fruit market is open weekdays near Burns Avenue, closer to town.

With one of the largest selections of arts and crafts in Belize, Art Box is the place to go if you're looking for handcrafted gifts, books, jewelry, or souvenirs. Upstairs is a gallery featuring Belizean artists including Carolyn Carr.

Handicraft vendors line the block of North Park Street between Fort and Cork Streets. (More show up on days when a cruise ship is in port.) There's nothing terribly formal here, but you'll find Belizean souvenir items, including hand-carved figurines, pottery, and woven baskets. The prices are about as good as you'll find anywhere in Belize, and the salespeople are friendly.

This gallery sells prints, handpainted silk, and other works by Lee Vanderwalker, as well as handmade jewelry and scarves by local artists. The small café serves tasty coffee and eclectic breakfast and lunch dishes.

The friendliest little grocery in the Cayo is Celina's Superstore, which has almost anything you'll need, including groceries, picnic supplies, toiletries, snacks, booze, and more.

Chan's is a popular supermarket in the village. Pick up your basic groceries and Marie Sharp's hot sauce here.

Hundreds of wholesale and retail companies are located in the Corozal Commercial Free Zone/Zona Libre Belice on the Belize side of the Belize-Mexico border. Visitors may find some bargains on clothing and household items imported from Asia, along with discounted gasoline and liquor, though the retail stores target Mexicans rather than Belizeans or U.S. or other international tourists. Three casinos also target the Mexican market, especially on weekends. 

Noted artist Walter Castillo, a San Pedro native, is a primitive artist in the area. His highly collectible paintings are among the best-known contemporary works on Belizean life. Call ahead for directions to the gallery and to arrange a time to visit.

Since 1976, this one-person "factory" has crafted beautiful jewelry. If you don't see a design you like, artist Dimas Guerrero will work with you to create one. We encourage you not to buy items made of black coral, which is highly endangered.

Get your boat snacks, Travellers rum, hot sauce, and kitschy magnets at this dependable store, open daily until late-ish.

Even though this shopping complex is open only when cruise ships are in port, it's a good place to stop, as it has around 50 gift shops, including the MOHO chocolate shop offering free samples of organic, Belize-made chocolates, plus the usual duty-free and jewelry stores you'll find all over the Caribbean. You'll also find clean restrooms, a cybercafé, tour kiosks, restaurants, and other services. Security is tight in the Tourism Village, and you'll feel safe. If you are not here on a cruise excursion, you must show your passport to enter. On cruise-ship days, vendors also set up booths on streets near the Tourism Village.

Pick up your Cohiba and Montecristo Cubans at this hideaway, as well imports from Nicaragua, Honduras, and elsewhere. You can even have a tumbler of rum with your cigar in the shop’s atmospheric lounge. 

The Image Factory holds art and photography shows and publishes books. Its small gallery and shop sell books, artwork, and CDs.

Island Supermarket has the largest selection of groceries, liquor, beer, and wine along with hot sauces and other souvenir items.

What are men’s supplies? Apparently they include Sperry’s topsiders and Star Wars Lego sets. If you forgot anything from an extension cord to antichafing powder, this variety store might carry it.

Marina's Store south of town has good prices for groceries but only a small selection. It has longer and later hours than many stores.

This dependable little store serves residents and condo guests on North Ambergris. You can order online and Mata Grande will deliver groceries to your vacation rental north of the Boca del Rio bridge. Expect higher prices than in town.

Some 100 Maya women from eight local villages sew handbags, purses, fitness bags, travel bags, and other items, which are sold in a fair-trade shop in Punta Gorda near the airstrip and, on a larger scale, to stores in the United States and via mail order elsewhere.

Sparkling, huge department store Mirab is Belize's largest such institution and worth a look if you're homesick for some stateside-style shopping.